Superman can handle a big golden globe but can he handle 52apolooza? Click and find out!

Welcome to 52apolooza, the Outhouse feature focusing on DC's September Relaunch. All of DC's 52 titles will be reviewed by our pool of reviewers to point out the best and worst that DC's new comic book line has to offer. To see how this book ranks among the other new DC titles, be sure to check out our 52apolooza Rankings!

DC shocked the masses by dissolving the famed Superman/Lois Lane marriage and introducing Jonathan Carroll into the fold. Jonathan Carroll's charm and personality shone through in the page and a half preview that DC release and quickly became a fan favorite months before the Relaunch actually started. Now that he's here, how did Jonathan Carroll's debut go? Read on and find out!
DC Reviewer: Sakie

When an iconic fixture of the old DCU falls within the first 2 pages of Superman #1 it quickly sets the tone for the remainder of the issue. As the old Daily Planet crumbles, I can't help but notice the symbolism as it is replaced by a bigger, newer, and shinier Daily Planet. Morgan Edge is now the owner of the Daily Planet which he merges with his Galaxy Broadcast System to create the Planet Global Network. Lois is named executive producer of PGN and executive vice president of new media, effectively making her everyone's boss.

While everyone else is celebrating the opening of the new Daily Planet and Superman is mourning the loss of the old Daily Planet building, a sentient fire-based alien attacks two guards at the Metropolis Astrodome. Later, while Superman is stopping a gang of clown mask-wearing thieves from stealing a tanker filled with toxic waste, the fire alien apparently decides to blow up the tanker, killing the thieves and stunning Superman. While the citizens of Metropolis seem more accepting of Superman then they did in Action Comics #1, some of them are quick to blame him for the explosion of the tanker. Superman battles the fire alien and the battle ends rather unclimatically.

Unfortunately, there is a lot going on in this issue so everything feels slightly rushed and very busy. It really feels like we are coming in on the middle of a story, especially when we discover that at some time between Action Comics #1 and now, Superman goes somewhere. We don't know where he went, we don't know what he did when he got there, and we don't know how long he stayed. Add this in with the fact that the artifact that Stormwatch discovers in the Himalayas is a giant horn that a giant alien uses for an unknown reason and I am pretty certain that new readers are going to fill a little overwhelmed when reading this issue.

There is no question that George Pérez is a very beloved contributor to the world of comics. Without him, we wouldn't have had the New Teen Titans or the Crisis on Infinite Earths. His writing in Superman #1 felt slightly dated to me and very busy. I did enjoy the issue and I am going to stay on this book at least through Giffen's first issue.

Merino's art is good but it isn't always consistent in this book. It does bring to mind Mark Bagley's artistic style but that only makes me wish that Mark Bagley was on this title. Oh and lets get one thing straight because apparently Merino and Pérez don't want you to forget that Perry White looks like he could be an action hero. Perry White is consistently drawn to look like he could almost be Kal-L in disguise.

All things considered, Superman #1 isn't a terrible first issue but it isn't great either. It is very mediocre. Both Clark and Superman come off as very moody and stand-offish, which would be fine if there weren't already a hundred other superheroes out there who fit that description.

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About the Author - Christian

Christian is the exasperated Abbott to the Outhouse's Costello. When he's not yelling at the Newsroom for upsetting readers or complaining to his wife about why the Internet is stupid, he sits in his dingy business office trying to find new ways to make the site earn money. Christian is also the only person in history stupid enough to moderate two comic book forums at once.